Gran with three husbands walks free

A GRANDMOTHER who said "I do", "I do" and "I do" again has walked free from court - despite having three husbands on the go all at once. Bigamist Valerie Brown, 49, was given an absolute discharge after admitting being "stupid".

A GRANDMOTHER who said "I do", "I do" and "I do" again has walked free from court - despite having three husbands on the go all at once.

Bigamist Valerie Brown, 49, was given an absolute discharge at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting being "stupid".

She admitted marrying her third husband only 13 days after meeting him and pleaded guilty to two counts of bigamy.

Brown, who lives on income benefit, married her first husband John Lamond in August 1976.

But the relationship ended quickly and Brown, 19 at the time, presumed her husband had divorced her.

She then married John O'Neil in October 1977, giving birth to three children during their 18-year relationship, but never told him she had previously married.

They separated in late 1995 but did not divorce until January. But 10 years ago Brown, who was living in Cheadle, Stockport, met Dean Galley, a customer at the pub where she worked as a barmaid.

Remarry

Although she was still married to O'Neil, Brown married her new love on Valentine's Day. But they divorced in 1999.

David Morton, defending, said Brown's bigamy came to light recently because Mr O'Neil wanted to remarry and applied to Stockport County Court to divorce her.

Officials could see that Brown, who now lives in Clydebank, Scotland, had remarried twice. She was arrested and charged under section 57 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Judge Roger Thomas QC told Brown: "You have acted very foolishly. Many people would say the lack of people marrying is unsatisfactory, but you seem to have been falling head over heels to marry.

"That you entered into a relationship with Galley and married him two weeks after you met him is beyond me.What the future holds for you with relationships and marriages I don't know but you can put this behind you now."

Speaking outside court with her youngest daughter Stacey, 24, by her side, Brown said she and her current boyfriend are steering clear of marriage.

"I know I have been stupid but I didn't commit bigamy for malicious reasons.

"I've been in a relationship now for a couple of years but I have no intention of marrying again."